Cape ballot firms up today with qualifying deadline

July 6, 2017

With 18 announced candidates and all but one already qualified, there is no shortage of contenders for the five seats to appear on the municipal ballot for Cape Coral City Council this year.

Official qualifying for office began Monday and concludes at 1 p.m. today, meaning the ballot makeup for mayor and the four Council seats up in November still is open.

It also means it's decision time for anyone still considering a bid.

Election law mandates that those hoping to retain or win the seats representing Districts 1, 4, 5 and 6 or the mayor's office must submit the paperwork and pay the filing fees required for the Sept. 12 Primary/Nov. 7 General Election no later than 1 p.m., Friday, July 7.

All candidates for city office must be continuous, full-time residents of Cape Coral for the entire calendar year preceding their qualification for office and must also reside in their respective districts.

The paperwork to qualify for the ballot includes providing a financial disclosure form and presenting a valid voter registration card.

The total fee to run for a council seat is $426, the total fee to run for mayor is $516.

Council compensation is $32,600 per year, plus certain benefits; the mayor's salary is $36,600 plus benefits.

Council terms are for four years. The candidate winning the District 5 seat, however, will serve two years, the remainder of the incumbent's term. Councilmember Rana Erbrick, pursuant to resign-to-run laws, is resigning her seat to run for mayor.

We thank the incumbents for their service and we thank the prospective candidates, incumbents and challengers alike, for their willingness to dedicate the next few years to the city.

For make no mistake, dedication is a key ingredient to public service on par with leadership skills and the ability to balance staff input with public mandate for not only the best short-term result but long-term success.

Yes, for those in doubt, we can sometimes be idealistic.

Candidate paperwork is available at the City Clerk's Office, which also has available online its 2017 Candidate Handbook. The handbook contains an elections calendar and all the information you need to run a statute-compliant campaign.